MLK Diversity Day–Murphy 1 /19/2015

Loop ~ 32 miles

Trail Boss – Jim Bob

Riders – John

Between rain and conflicts I couldn't ride Saturday or Sunday.  Jim Bob said he had Monday off and
suggested Murphy. The forecast was sunshine and a high close to 40F

Monday morning if was ~35F at the house and a light fog. During the drive to Murphy the temperature
dropped to 30F as I drove through Kuna.  As I approached HWY45 a went to slow down I found some
black ice ( making Sharpton happy ). I quickly accessed I didn’t want to cross HWY45, even if I didn’t
have any cross traffic I would do a Dukes of Hazard off the other side and sink in the mud to the floor boards .
If I continued to skid I would have to go into the ditch on side of the road to slow down but the  ABS did their
job and I stopped with no problem .

As I approached Murphy the temperature continued to drop and was 26F when I pulled into the trail head,
but the fog was starting to burn off.

Jim Bob’s bike had a thick layer of frozen fog when he unloaded it.

 

After we dressed we took off toward Skate Board on a loop that Jim Bob likes to ride.
Different draws still a fog and pockets of cold air settled in the bottom.

 

 

The Zig Zag had pools of ice. I spun out when I tried to hop out over some rocks.

Top of Skate Board . Skate board was a mix of frozen clay, mud and sand .

 

 

 

This wash ended in a small box canyon. Jim Bob scouted a possible path over the top.

 

Tuesday clean up. I must have had 20lbs of mud on the bike.

In Search of Climate Disruption , Jacks Creek - 1/10/2015

Loop ~ 42 miles
Trail Boss – Butch
Riders – Dave , Don , Scott , Vince , John

Photos – Dave , Butch , John

Dave set up a Saturday ride for Jack’s Creek. We met for breakfast at the Y-BAR in Grand View.
We got to Jack’s Creek around 11AM and on the bikes around 11:30.

The temperature was 30F and there was a wet fog, no snow and the dirt was great.
I’m starting to ride OK  in the sand washes , but the wet goggles hosed me. 
I couldn’t  see the details of the terrain , so no anticipation of woops, g-outs, rocks , etc.  Started backing off
the speed. A couple of climbs I had to retreat & clean or take off my goggles.
Even pulled the liner out of my  helmet to get more air flow to keep the goggles clear. Made for chilly ride but seemed to help.

 

 

Scott and Don

 

Butch

Vince , Don

Vince and I on a shelf half way up the Chalk Hill watching the big boys.

 

Chalk Hill Climb

Ridge on top of Chalk Hill.
On the east side of the Chalk Hills we discovered an established trail we had never ridden before.
The trail carried us over to Shoo Fly then followed a fence line toward Mud Flat.

Found some old trails that took us back to Jacks Creek.

We stopped for lunch upstream from the old ranch house.  I was getting chilled riding at the higher elevation
and had to put the liner back in my helmet.

Most of the morning I felt like I needed to stop for a bio-break ,but at lunch I discovered it was just gas .

Dave, Butch  and Don shared stories about search and recuse , rescue beacons, etc ……… 

After lunch we took the side hill trail over the ridge.

Near the top , Don missed a shift, hit neutral and started to roll backwards. He dabbed his down hill foot down,
high sided , stepped off the bike and did a couple of full somersaults down the hill.

Butch was behind him and caught the getoff on his goggle cam. 

Don was banged up , but no twisted / bust limbs and did not ring his bell.
Dave thought he looked more flexible than you would expect.

Jacks Creek exit out of the cliffs

 

 

ASH DEPOSIT  - evidence of previous climate disruption in the Idaho desert.

It’s Frik’n Cold–New Years Ride 2015

I got to ride New Years with some old Micron co-workers. Stacy Heminger organized the ride.
It was ~15F at the trail head when we started the ride.  Damn it was cold, the desert had a couple of inches of snow.
The washes had frozen ruts hidden under the snow.

I rode my Berg w/o ice screws did OK . Debating whether to build some a set of snow tires on the KTM.

We had 10 riders did a 25 mile loop.  After the ride Stacy grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

( photo’s – John , Stacy )

 

Stacy and Greg at Rabbit Creek Trail Head